Construction worker Sellappan had modest dreams for his son. Sellappan only wanted him to shoulder his responsibilities and take care of the family.

| TNN | Apr 2, 2013, 02.29 AM IST

CHENNAI: Construction worker Sellappan had modest dreams for his son. Sellappan only wanted him to shoulder his responsibilities and take care of the family. But S Mahendra Kumar has surpassed his father's expectations. The 23-year-old, a national gold medalist in Muay Thai boxing, has been shortlisted for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held at South Korea in June.

"It is a great honour for me to be part of the Muay Thai boxing squad visiting South Korea in June," says Kumar, who is pursuing a bachelor degree in physical education at Annamalai University. He has won the gold medal at the national level meet held in Manipur in February.

"But many people do not know what Muay Thai boxing is," he says. The national sport of Thailand, it is a combination of regular boxing, kickboxing and martial arts. The only son of Sellappan and Iyyammal, Kumar began playing football while studying in Sankar Higher Secondary School in Sankagiri. Later on, he became interested in boxing. "When I was in Class 10, I met a Muay Thai boxer who came for a school function. Then I gradually became interested in it," says Kumar.

He won several body building titles, including Mr Bharathiyar University, Mr Erode (2010), Mr Kongunadu (2011) and Mr Salem (2012). He stood seventh in the Mr Tamil Nadu competition held in 2011. Kumar says that Marimuthu, G P Mahesh Babu and Rajaram, members of the Chennai chapter of the Muay Thai Federation of India, as well as sports psychologist C Krishnaprasad helped him mould his career.

However, Kumar is struggling to fund his trip to Incheon in South Korea. "A private company has agreed to fund part of my travel. I will definitely bring honour to our state and the country if the government sponsors my trip," he says. His parents are still not aware of their only son's achievements. "We were worried about his health after he was injured in the national level meet. Many of my neighbours are praising my son and I am happy to tell every one in my small village that I am Mahendra Kumar's father," says 48-year-old Sellappan.

RELATED

From around the web

More from The Times of India

Recommended By Colombia

From Around the Web

More From The Times of India

Recommended By Colombia

Comments

Characters Remaining: 3000

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

FacebookGoogleEmail

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Read more

Most Popular

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre over the price-rise issue, raising questions over why the rates of essential commodities were skyrocketing at a time when international oil prices have hit record lows.

The alliance with the BJP will continue in Jammu and Kashmir, but there is no deadline on government formation, said the People's Democratic Party, which had been ruling the state for the last 10 months in alliance with the BJP. The final call, the party said, will be taken later by its chief Mehbooba Mufti.